The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-24
A SHOCKING CRIME.
Nine Persons Murdered in a Georgi:
Farmhouse.

Nine Persons Murdered in a Georgia
Farmhouse.
Nine persons were murdered a few days
since in farm house thirteen miles from Ma
con, Ca Particulars of the terrible crime
are given in dispatch from Macon, Ga, as
follows:
The structure in which the crime was COM
mitted is a one-story building, with a long
veranda in front, and q hallway running
through the centre, into which open four
rooms. The house was the property of Richard
+. Voolfolk, q respectable and well-to-do
white planter On the right on entering is
parlor, in the rear of which is a sleeping
room, which was occupied last night by the
following persons: Mrs. West, all aged
sister of Mrs Voolfolk; Pearl, Annie.
and Rosebud Voolfolk, daughters of
Mrs. Voolfolk. The sleeping room on the
left of the entrance was occupied by Thomas,
Richard and Charles Voolfolk, sons of Mr..
and Mrs. Voolfolk. The rear room on the
left was occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Voolfolk
and their youngest child, aged Is months.
A ghastly sight confronted those who first
entered the house after the discovery OF the
crime: In the last room the father, mother,
and infant lay dead on the same bed. Across
the three corpses was slung that of the eldest
daughter, Pearl, q recent graduate of Wesley
an Female College, with. her head beaten
to jelly, and her neck and body mutiated
On the floor, in the same mangled state lay
the body of the eldest brother. IL
was evident that Pearl and her brother
had been awakened by cries during the
butchering of their parents, and had
rushed into the room to learn the cause only
site room lay the body of Mrs West soaked
in her own blood. On the same bed lay
the body of Annie Voolfolk, with her head
cloven in twain. By the window on the floor,
in an attitude of supplicat:on. lay the body of
Rosalind Voolfolk, with the left side of the
head so mangled as to make recognition al
most impossible.
In the fourth room slept Thos G.. Voolfolk
and his brothers, Richard and Charles. Rich
ard was found dead in the room of his parents,
as already described. Charles was found
dead in his own room, killed in the same
manner as the other members of the family,
, and presenting the same horrible spectacle
The sight made the strongest hearts sick.
Even the ceilings and walls were bespattered
with blood and brains, and here and there
pieces of flesh which had been flung from the
uplifted axe clung to the walls and wainscot-
ing. The crowd stood aghast, apparently
dumbfounded by the unparalleled horrors OF
the scene.
As soon as the officials could collect their
senses steps to investigate the crime were be-
gun. T. &. Voolfolk, the only survivor of
replies were of such nature that sus-
murderer. He was Immediately placed
under arrest Nothing was proved as to
Woolfolks guilt, but great deal of circum-
stantial evidence fastened the chain around
him tighter and tighter. AS the inquest pro-
ceeded the frenzy of the crowd increased,
opd ,.-ith cyroot 6ifinulty fbot ShariF
Wescott appeased their fury and induced
thell to allow the law to take its course.
By an artful man9uvre he got the jury
to withhold the verdict until he could at
convenient moment get his prisoner away.
which he did quietly before the crowd was
aware of it. While the Sheriff, his
aids, and the prisoner were speeding toward
Macon, the jury brou Int verdict of murder,
with Voolfolk as the prepetrator. Subse-
quently Woolfolks shirt, covered with blood,
was found in the well, it having risen to the
surface.
T. G. Voolfolk for the past twenty or
twenty-three years has been engaged in bust
ness at Macon. He ran a barroom and
grocery store, and cheated and swindled
he failed, when he disappeared for c
time Not long ago he opened
grocery and commission business in
Macon, pursued the same policy, and
soon failed the second time. In both
instances, his father, who it was considered
had considerable property, set him up in
business. After his second failure, his father
refused to longer back him, and told him
he had squandered his portion of the
estate. Voolfolk grew desperate, and
married in romantic Way Miss Bird,
in the hope that his father would
give him money. His wife soon left him,
because he was unable to support her, and
Voolfolk, after driving a street car in
Macon for a few days, went to his
father and engaged to work in til:
field for him by the month. It is said
that the other day his father told him that
he had done everything he could for him
and he intended to provide for his other chill
dren in his will. Voolfolk, who has been
crank on the subject of inhcritinS his ia
theirs wealth, made threats, it is said, that he
he would get possession of the property.
| The theory is that lie first killed his father,
then the elder brother, Richard, in the door
way, who ran to sec what was the matter;
then his mother, and Matte, the baby; then
/ his sister Pearl, who also ran in, and his
brother Charley, all Of whom were found in
the same room. Then, to complete the work
of killing the heirs, he slaughtered his aunt
and the other two sisters in the third room.
| As the accused man was in great danger Of
| lynching, he was removed on the day follow
| inc his arrest from Macon to Atlanta, and
there lodged in Jail. The nine victims of the
awful crime were buried in Rose Hill Gene
| FRY Macon